St.Helens R.F.C. is thrilled to confirm that Saints Academy product Jake Wingfield has put pen to paper on a new contract which has the potential to keep him at the Club until the end of 2028!
Jake Wingfield is proudly sponsored at Saints by LDM Slate Roofing Ltd.
This new contract takes Jake into the 2026 season with St.Helens, his seventh with the Club, with 2027 and 2028 triggered dependent upon the number of appearances he makes in the subsequent years.
The uncompromising 24-year-old has been with the Club since he was fourteen; after joining from local community club Blackbrook ARLFC, he progressed through the Club’s Scholarship and Academy programmes. As a junior, he represented Lancashire in the Academy ranks before making his Super League debut in 2020 against Salford Red Devils.
‘Wingy’ made seven senior match appearances in 2021, before having a breakthrough season in 2022, where he featured 20 times, including the Grand Final victory over Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.
In 2023, the versatile forward came off the bench in St.Helens’ historic World Club Challenge victory over Penrith Panthers, the first win by a British team in the competition during the summer era of Rugby League.
During the past two seasons, Jake has emerged as a young leader, stepping up his own personal fitness away from the Club environment, showing a real driven attitude after battling a couple of harsh injuries.
Able to play across all positions in the pack, and with a work and effort rate that is imperious, Wingfield holds a desire to be an important Saint in our pack.
Jake Wingfield told saintsrlfc.com: “I’m over the moon, when I got told the Club wanted me to stay, I was buzzing and I still am. I’m just looking forward to getting stuck into next year and hopefully the two after that.
“Having come through the Academy and signing my First Team contract back in 2020, that was a massive moment for me and my family, and to still be here at an elite club six years later and going into my seventh season is massive for me.”
Wingfield’s goals as we advance are simple: to perform his best for the Saints and step up to become one of our emerging leaders, after a tough couple of personal periods due to injury.
“I’ve said to myself, ‘I’m going to come back fitter and better.’ Of course, ideally, I would not have had those injuries, but they’ve shaped me, and I feel more resilient now because of what I’ve been through. Hopefully, I get a bit of luck on my side, with this full pre-season under my belt, I want a successful 2026.
“I’ve learned so much from players like Morgan Knowles and Matty Lees. Now, I want to take on more responsibility, help the younger lads coming through from the Academy, like Noah [Stephens] and George [Delaney], and really try to lead by example.”
We head into an exciting new chapter with a new Head Coach, Paul Rowley, and that has Jake relishing the thought of coming back into the Club to work.
“Whenever a new coach comes in, everyone wants to impress, and that drives really high standards. I’m looking forward to seeing what ideas Paul brings and getting on board with that. Hopefully, he can help me take my game to another level.
“Loose forward is definitely my preferred position, it’s where I feel I play my best rugby, but I’m happy to fill in anywhere if needed.”
Thanking our fantastic supporters for their support, Jake finished off by saying: “I’d like to say a massive thank you for the last six years. I’ve had some rough times, but the fans have always backed me, and I really appreciate that. Hopefully that support continues – it means a lot.”
